Demetrio Carceller Arce: "We have managed to position Damm as a market benchmark in terms of sustainability"
The CEO of Damm is quoted as saying the above during an interview with the Dean of Duke Universty's - Fuqua School of Business in North Carolina (USA), Bill Boulding
Damm CEO, Demetrio Carceller Arce, spoke with the Dean of Duke University's - Fuqua School of Business, within the framework of its Distinguished Speaker Series interviews. During the interview, Carceller Arce shared his point of view regarding the business world, the keys to the success of the companies he manages, and the current challenges companies face.
Throughout his career, Carceller Arce has participated on the Boards of several different companies, becoming a highly valued entrepreneur because of his experience and knowledge of different sectors. He highlights his ability to implement strategies that have allowed his companies to grow. "When I joined Damm, I found a company with values, but a company that was conservative, cautious, and risk-averse. I decided to change that by promoting objectives-based work, and not risk aversion, while at the same time avoiding recklessness", Carceller Arce explained regarding Damm's growth.
Damm's current CEO remarked during his intervention that the success he achieved in different businesses would not have been possible without the help of the amazing teams that have accompanied him. In his opinion, it was essential to get to know the people that made up the company during his time with Damm, giving them responsibility and allowing them to grow.
When asked what achievements he is most proud of, Damm's CEO highlighted the milestones reached in terms of sustainability. "Sustainability has become one of Damm's values, and we have been able to position Damm as a market leader in terms of sustainability" Arce said. Among some of the achievements highlighted during the interview, he mentioned the fact that “Damm had eliminated 99 tons of plastic per year thanks to the use of new sustinable packaging, which substituted plastic rings for 100% biodegradable carbdoard; As well as the reduction of water consumption by 34% over the last decade."
In recent years, Demetrio Carceller Arce has been particulary recognised for his leadership in terms of digital transformation and sustainability. "To me, digital transformation means investment. It's not about reducing the number of employees or costs, but rather transforming the way in which we do business. We create a digital atmosphere and think in digital terms." Carceller Arce said about the digitalisation of the businesses in which he participates.
In conclusion, Damm's CEO wanted to share his vision on corporate leadership, and highlighted that "To lead means to take risks, to be informed, to try to be creative, to understand that the probem is and the associated opportunity; to have an opinion and to be able to convince people that your way is the right way."
With regard to managing COVID-19, Carceller Arce admitted that in the beginning it was complicated because the scope and consequences of the pandemic were still unknown. Likewise, he stated that, "Our priority was to ensure the safety of our people, given that, by being considered an essential activity, our factories and operations continued to function." To that end, communication was key: "You always have to communicate with your team, but during the pandemic, communication became constant, whether on-line, over the phone, through messaging, or in video format. Everyone at the company had to be up to date on what was going on."
He also highlighted that flexibility to adapt to continuous change, and teamwork, were decisive factors: "This allowed us to identify new leaders within the company. People who responded positively, who made decisions and contributed solutions."
You can see the full interivew at:
About Distinguished Speaker Series
Distinguished Speaker Series is a series of interviews with the most distinguished former students of the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. Among some of the celebrities and senior management executives interviewed, there are names such as: Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors or David S. Taylor, CEO of P&G.
